Bradley, Mahan, Simpson add power, precision to US team

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2012, file photo, USA's Webb Simpson reacts after making a putt on the 11th hole during a four-ball match at the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson announces his wild-card selections for the American team, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, with Keegan Bradley, Hunter Mahan, Webb Simpson and Chris Kirk among the favorites. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)(Photo: Charlie Riedel, AP)

NEW YORK – At the PGA Championship nearly one month ago, Tom Watson was putting up a brave face when asked about the health of the U.S. Ryder Cup team he will captain Sept. 26-28 in Scotland.

“There is concern. We’re dropping like flies,” Watson said, referring to Matt Kuchar’s withdrawal from the major with back spasms, Jason Dufner’s neck problems and Dustin Johnson’s voluntary leave of absence to seek help for “personal challenges.” A few days later, Tiger Woods took himself out of the picture because of his bad back.

“But there is time for recovery,” Watson said. “And there will be a lot of golf played between now and Sept. 2. That’s the magical day I make the picks.”

Poof. The combination of time and Watson’s three captain’s picks — Keegan Bradley, Hunter Mahan and Webb Simpson – magically has fortified the red, white and blue.

And while the U.S. is still an underdog against a powerful European squad that will be playing at home, has won five of the last six matches and is led by world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, it’s no longer an underdog the size of Cujo.

Bradley, who adds power to the team, teamed with Mickelson to go 3-0 at Medinah in 2012. Mahan, who is 3-2-3 in Ryder Cup matches, adds precision as one of the best tee-to-green players in the game and was on the U.S. team that last won in 2008. But he lost in the pivotal singles match to Graeme McDowell that gave Europe victory in 2012. Simpson was 2-2 at Medinah.

“There are a lot of players on the American team who are playing well and that bodes well,” Watson said. “The European team on paper has been tabbed as the favorite, but I have a fundamental belief in my team. They want to go back and make amends for 2012, which was a hard, hard loss that still sticks with them a lot.”

Or as Mahan said: “Europe has kicked our butts for the last 10, 15 years. Everyone is going to be ... extremely motivated to get the Cup back”

Europe still holds the edge. It has a stranglehold on the 17-inch, 4-pound trophy. And it has the memory of the Miracle at Medinah, when it stormed back from a 10-6 deficit on the last day to win, 14½-13½.

And it’s loaded with four-time major champion McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, the past two winners of the U.S. Open in Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell. Paul McGinley added with his captain’s picks the experience of Lee Westwood; the passion and talent of Ian Poulter, who is 12-3 in the matches; and Stephen Gallacher, who has eight top-10s on the European Tour this year.

Europe is so deep that Luke Donald, a former world No. 1 who has never been on a losing team in four Ryder Cup matches, was left off.

But regardless of Europe being favored, McDowell said a doozy of a match awaits. “There’s no point getting upset by who is favored and who is underdog. All I know is it’s going to be a real battle,” he said. “It’s always a slugfest and it will come down to some putts here or there Sunday afternoon.”